Kind people and creative projects: that’s the best you can ask for in Hollywood. Bringing back The Muppet Show was all those things —and more! What a career/life highlight. I mean, getting to research — and then recreate— every detail of one of my favorite shows since childhood?! How lucky am I?!
I’m just so proud of what we got to create, and filled with gratitude that some of my closest friends were willing to lend their talents (looking at you, Jane & Matilda!)
I surely didn’t take enough photos, and I don’t wanna give away any puppet secrets, but swipe for beautiful set details and photos of humans (and puppets) I adore —who all helped bring The Muppet Show to life!
We were so proud to have partnered with @thebalanceproject_hq on 13 events including assemblies, parent eds, and an expert panel over the past week for their families and schools! Here's DopaMind co-founder @bethanybarton speaking with @megolivertv of @cbsnews / @cbseveningnews on how kids can be empowered to take charge of their own digital wellness with the help of education that is developmentally-appropriate and delivered with empathy and humor.
See the full clip on CBS Mornings at the link in bio.
#digitalwellness #kidsmentalhealth #parenting #screentimeparenting
Hi! I’m Bethany Barton. An award-winning author and illustrator of STEM picture books for Penguin Random House. Last week I visited five elementary schools. We read my books, created art, asked questions, explored STEM subjects, and got fired-up about reading. It was a lot of fun! Want me to visit your school too? I can totally do that! Shoot me a message. I *might* even bring my toilet paper cannon (it’s educational, of course!)
Check the link in my bio to head to my website, and click the “Author Visits and Workshops” tab to learn more!
I’m working on a show again! With some of my very best friends! ✨It’s all very secret, so all I can share is this photo of my extremely professional office of extreme adult professionalness and grown-uppery. Plus disco ball.
There are not many shows filming in the US right now, and much of the industry is hurting. So I’m feeling extra thankful to be on a show that’s intentional about keeping filming & Hollywood in Los Angeles. 💪🎬
We found a wee kitten on Easter! Our kiddo has named him ShadowKit! (ala the Warriors book series) BEHOLD HIS ADORABLENESS.
I’ve never had a cat before! This is my first cat-ting! I’m a bit allergic but it’s totally worth it… We are all in love! (Well, save for the dog, who is very tolerant and keeps using her shepherd instincts to herd the kitty 😂)
Gimme all your cat parent advice!
<<breaks out notebook and pen>>
Super excited for the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) conference this week— a whole conference full of science lovers like me! 🤓💚
If you’re looking for classroom-ready ways to help kids connect with how science shows up in their daily lives, and to guide them to write about it in their own unique author’s voice, I’m your gal! Plus, I’ve put free printables up on my website for use in your classroom or library too!
Join me at I’m Trying to Love Research — and together we’ll help kids fall in love with finding out.(<—- I’m secretly kinda proud of that one! 🥹)
Afterwards, meet me at Publisher’s Spotlight, where @penguinclassroom will be giving away signed copies of I’m Trying To Love Farts! 💨📚 (Just the books… not actual farts.)
See you there!!!
Educators: please don't do this 🙏
In DopaMoms, DopaMind co-founders step away from our opinion-free, evidence-based work to give unfiltered takes on the latest tech news, gadgets, and trends—the way moms actually talk on the sidelines. Full episode focused on EdTech linked in bio!
#edtech #educationtechnology #parenting #digitalparenting #teachersofinstagram
“Biggs” the squirrel wanted me to share the news . This weekend is WonderCom ! I’ll be on an SDSA panel speaking with Set Decorators about decorating for PUPPETS. Check it out 1:00 Sunday 3/29/26 , room # 300A at the Anaheim Convention Center. #themuppets ,#thisissetdecoration #emmynoninated . Join @bethanybarton and @picklevelveteen and myself for the fun . 🐿️ Big squirrel thank you to the committee for orchestrating this cool event. @raedioactivv@meshellh1@prernachawla.designs & @picklevelveteen , y’all rock !
I usually post about books, STEM, digital wellness for kids, and the work I do in art dept for film & TV.
But spring is here, so it’s time you all knew the truth: I’m a crazy iris gardener lady. Irises were my mom’s favorite flower, and she passed the addiction onto me. (It is a lifelong, incurable addiction 🌷.)
Iris was the Greek goddess of rainbows, and it was said flowers bloomed wherever she stepped. Irises come in an *absolutely unreal* array of colors, but only delight us with their blooms a few weeks in the spring.
And MAN do they ever make this oft-frustrating world a more beautiful place to be.
(Keep an eye out for all the beautiful things blooming in your world. Being a human is pretty neat.)
We had the pleasure of sitting down with Bethany Barton for a fun and insightful conversation you won’t want to miss! 🎉📚
In this interview, she shares all about her upcoming book Brain vs. Screen—and why it’s such an important topic for young readers (and adults, too!). 🧠📱
Watch the full interview right here and get a sneak peek at what’s to come! 👀✨
#mrsnelsons #educators #kidlit #mustread #schoollibrarian
It’s time to meet the Mupp— er— BARTONS! At WonderCon 2026! This weekend, at Anaheim Convention Center! On Sunday, I’ll be talking about making The Muppet Show on an SDSA panel about Set Decoration for Puppets. And all weekend meet us at booth SP-6 to check out issue two of my husband’s insanely awesome new comic The Suicidals!
So Muppet folk, help me out: what do you want to know?! What should we talk about? AMA!
As both a parent and a human, screens are hard. Here are some books that help. At @dopamindkids we’ve read most of these books. Aniko even interviewed a bunch of these authors on our podcast. And some of these smart humans are even on our advisory board. So here’s a coupon code for 15% off: BSO15 (as in, Book Shop Org 15) Cuz we’re all in this together.
(You can even pre-order my upcoming picture book Brain Vs. Screen: How Screen Time Affects Our Brains, and get 15% off that too! Which is pretty sweet.)
And now I’m not sure how to end this caption, so here are some emojis. 🧠📲❤️🌎✨⚖️
